He Has Done Great Things For Me, Too!!!

Luke 1:46-50

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is His Name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Sophie, Jonny and Nicole
Sophie scored the wide-angle lens of her dreams

Molly rockin' the burb scarf the perfect apron for me-not that I've ever had a meltdown!
Cajun Kitchen Tree

Christmas Decor '08

that giraffe spoke to me once (not literally, duh!) about medical missions in Africa 

                                                      Nutcrackers "Hans and Franz"

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

all kindergarten reindeer popcicle stick ornaments and any other type are welcome on this tree after I was accused of and found guilty of making it too fancy a few years back!
The Nativity is my favorite of all!

Tokyo Comes To Kentucky!

Molly's friend, Ranko, is spending part of Christmas with us since it is so expensive to go home.  We are totally blessed by her and thankful to God for allowing us to host her.  She is precious and I pray she will experience Christmas like never before.  In Tokyo, the big holiday is New Year's.  Lord, help us to throw down a month- long birthday party for Christ and glorify His Name in our house!  Happy B-day Jesus!!! 

Connected To Connect!

While attending the Women's Ministry National Leadership Forum in Nov. 2007, I met Janice Viinalass at Leighann McCoy's prayer breakout session.  We talked for a few minutes after the session and exchanged email addresses and I committed our spring women's Tues. Morning Bible study to pray for her family and mission ministry in Estonia (next to Finland, duh!).  The thing that amazed me is how God connected us this fall.  They came home to Columbus, Ohio, in early Nov. and  worked out their schedule to come to our church on a Sunday evening, Nov. 2nd,  and speak to our congregation regarding their work in Estonia.  I knew God's hand had brought them to us and their testimony inspired and touched so many people at FBCR.  Thank you, Lord, for introducing me to Janice and for how You are using them to further Your Kingdom and for the unseen work that is taking place as we speak resulting from their evening spent with us. God, has anyone ever told You just how COOL You are?!

" We're Just a Dirty Spoon"

Mike and I were talking this morning before he left for work about living the Spirit-filled life and he ended the conversation with a sentence that I cracked up over and had to write down. He said, (after salvation) "we gotta be healed and know the Truth and until that happens we're just a dirty spoon." Of course, he was referring to the verses in 2 Timothy 2:20-21 and I recognized where this was coming from but it was so stinkin' funny for him to say it that way. Lord, make us holy and useful to You, prepared to do any good work!!!

Lovin' The Fireproof Movie!

To date, I have seen this movie 3 times!!! I guess I love it so much because it is chock full of Truth which is such a rarity these days not to mention the drastic lack of violence ('cept for the baseball bat). I saw it the first weekend it came out with Mike. But, last week we went to dinner and saw the movie with our neighbors. Mike got the idea while listening to the Sunday sermon to branch out from our normal study and meet for dinner and see the movie. Six of the neighbors made it that evening and we had a wonderful time. At one point during the movie, I looked across the row and had to ponder how interesting, amazing and like God it was to orchestrate this date. I mean, I love my neighbors and all but to actually go to a Christian movie together was certainly not something I could've "thunk up." Praise You, Lord, for Your creativity and love. My third viewing was with Molly and Monica two days ago. They liked it as well and I know God will use it in their young lives to model "true agape love." Way to go God and the faithful brothers (Alex and Stephen Kendrick) who wrote this script. "Fireproof doesn't mean something prevents fire. Fireproof means you are able to withstand a fire."

Won't You Be My Neighbor!

Just wanted to post on the Neighborhood Bible Study. We have met twice thus far and it is going quite well. Our first meeting was on Aug. 26, when we hosted a barbecue for the people on our street. We invited them for fun, food, and fellowship and to discuss the possibility of interest in beginning a neighborhood Bible study. Believers, seekers, skeptics and doubters are welcome the invitation read. Twelve showed up and we had an awesome time. After the dinner and non-cheesy ice-breakers, we began a discussion about what we would ask God if we could ask Him one question. Mike began by talking about Jason and how he would ask God about why he had to die after finally turning his life around from drugs, alcohol, etc., and living for Christ for four years. Then others began to articulate their questions and the discussion went well. One man shared that the day before we hand-delivered the invitations that he prayed and asked God, "that if he were to grow in his faith, how would he go about doing that and could God give him a sign."
He said that after we left his house, he asked his wife what we were doing and she told him that we had just invited them to a barbecue and bible study. He said that he was startled!! He recognized that God was answering him. We had no idea that God had orchestrated our timing in response to his question of faith. But, we were not surprised. Everyone that came has planned to meet at our house every other week. It is obvious that God has brought us together and we are truly getting to know one another as neighbors should. PTL!! We know He is doing an awesome work among us. <><

Restorer of Streets With Dwellings!

Isaiah 58:12 says, "Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations. You will be called repairer of broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings." Don't you know that God totally spoke to me on Tues. morning through this verse!! Mike has felt led to begin a neighborhood bible study ever since Bruce "Prayer of Jabez" Wilkinson spoke to our church in May and challenged us to fill the pews. I must confess that I had been complacent about inviting people to FBCR. And God exposed my complacency through Bruce. I personally thought that a neighborhood bible study (NBS) was a great idea and I knew I wanted to be involved. Over the summer, Mike and I prayed while he researched seeker group studies. God began to bring clarity to him about how to approach it only I knew I didn't quite have the vision Mike had for this ministry. I kept asking Mike questions like, "Do we invite random people from all over Bellefonte or how do we know exactly who to invite?" He told me a couple of weeks ago that we should start with inviting just the houses on our STREET (more specifically just those on our block). On Monday night, I wasn't sleeping well and was praying about all I potentially was supposed to be involved with for the fall and I asked God to give me a passion and confirmation for the NBS. On Tuesday morning during my "quiet time" I began reading Isaiah 58 which is my all-time favorite passage. When I got to verse 12, I got my confirmation. God spoke directly to me using the word STREET to confirm that I was to be in partnership with Mike in leading a study. I then became really excited about the NBS because the God of the Universe told me to get on board because He was ordaining it! Thank you, Father. I can and will trust You as we begin to point some people to You so that You may make some "home improvements." Serving You is my privilege. Ciao! Dana <><

"You'll See" Glory's Just Around The Corner!

Well, Molly, Jonny and Sophie are officially moved into their respective college homes. On Friday, I helped Molly get moved into her dorm at MSU. It was somewhat of a hostile environment on the part of 2 of the 3 new roomies. Let's just say that it was quite obvious that "some" had settled in and really didn't seemed thrilled that 2 more would be joining them. But after all, it was a 4 girl room. I must say, that Molly took the high road in her attitude of heart. I was proud of the spiritual maturity she was displaying by the fact that she was responding in the spirit and not the flesh. I struggled a bit because I kept comparing Belmont Univ. to Morehead St. Univ. My flesh definitely wanted to make an appearance! But I know quite well that God is not into comparisons and so I had to pray, pray, pray throughout the day. But the cool thing is that He specifically spoke to me on Friday morning as I showered and before we even left the house. I asked Him, "Why Morehead, Lord?" He replied, "You'll see." "When," I prodded, and He said, "Wait." I then asked, "Did You just say wait?" "Yes," He said. So I totally got a "You'll see, wait, and yes," from the Lord. The next day I was watching Monk on the DVR and at one point on the submarine episode, Mr. Monk said, "You'll see, be patient." He was recreating a silencer out of a soda pop bottle. I asked Molly(she came back home with Kev Sat. morning for Shannon's b-day) to roll it back because those words reminded me of what God had spoken to me just the day before. It was as if He were reminding me again first of all because at that time, I NEEDED REMINDING. That moment also reinforced the point that something BIG was at stake. On Sun. morning in my quiet time I read from 1 Peter 4 in the Message. It talked about glory being just around the corner and going through what Christ experienced being a spiritual refining process-this was an answer to a question I had asked God on Friday night. (Lord, just what are we dealing with regarding the Morehead roommate situation?) We are to rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ. I also loved what He spoke to me in my devo.-Just believe, trust Me, and let not your heart be troubled. Perfect words for my battle with #1 the transfer and #2 the unwelcoming roommates. God has been preparing me all week for what was going down. I wavered in and out of belief. I let the enemy get to me at times. I confessed my unbelief as sin and then chose to believe. I KNOW God is doing a BIG thing and that I will SEE it in His timing. This pumps me up! (ala Hans and Franz) Thank you Lord for loving me through this emo weekend. Above all love, each other deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Pet. 4:8 Love, Dana

Molly Has Chosen What Is Better!

Today starts the grief period for me because summer 2008 is coming to an end. Molly and Jonny are both moving to Morehead on Friday so this week will be all about preparation and packing. Sophie is going back to Columbia College in Chicago on Friday as well! But the big surprise for me is how I have been an emotional wreck these past few days because Molly decided to leave Belmont and transfer to Morehead. I have known all summer that this was a possibility and we have prayed and sought God's will for her in this matter. Last week when she officially withdrew from Belmont, I became somewhat emo and I believe God was exposing a root of sinful self-interest in me. Why did I care so much about her transferring? Does it really matter what college or university her degree comes from? Well, he proceeded to expose pride in my heart. I honestly did not see this coming. But, sure enough, I was a wreck over her decision to leave precious little "Belmont" and transfer to Morehead. I mean Nashville has everything and Morehead has...what? Did you know that the road to the White House runs through Belmont? This little gem of a school has got it going on! So how could transferring to Morewho, I mean Morehead be a good decision? Well, this morning in my quiet time I believe God confirmed His will for her to me. The passage-Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. When I read it I saw me "worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better..." I knew immediately that God had spoken to me and confirmed that it was His will for this school transfer. Also, I remembered that the name Molly is a diminutive form of the name Mary so I knew that He was in essence saying to me, "Molly has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her. So there it was-Morehead was better for Molly than Belmont! Only God knows why but I will choose to trust Him and put this issue to rest. Luke 9:48 b (MSG) says, "You become great by accepting, not asserting.  Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference." In other words, it's God's Holy Spirit in you, not the degree you receive or where you receive it from that makes the difference in your life.  Thank you, LORD, for the delivering word. I needed it! Love, joy, peace... Dana

Jesusistheparty!

Hello everyone out there in the blogosphere! Just getting started with my blog and am walking through the steps so bear with me! Thanks . Dana